- THE THREE SOUND OF REVOLUTION / RING SOUND / MIDDLE SOUND / INDEX SOUND
Wanton Witch
(Malaysia)
Bio:
Born in an isolated community of Borneo Island in 1993 Wanton Witch is a DJ and pro- ducer with a hyper-sensitive connection and approach to sound through performance. Coming of age in the relative isolation of island life, it wasn't until relocating to Bangkok that she was able to access the different communities of musical genres that she would later travel between. With an early taste for trap and hip hop, she began working in the deconstructed club and techno scene where she found her musical voice, beginning her DJ career in 2018. Wanton is also a cofounder and original member of Queer underground creative collective 'Non Non Non' that has become a Bangkok nightlife staple.
Being an "outsider" musician and producer with no formal training, it was the fortuitous crossing of paths online that has sparked the creative collaboration between Wanton
and label owner and creative director Lucy. Last year Stroboscopic Artefacts celebrated ten years established between experimental and dance floor spectres and this is the first record the label is releasing after one year break, marking the launch of a new chap- ter for the imprint. It is with releases like the eponymous debut album from Wanton Witch and the support given to emerging artists like her that the imprint continues to forge pathways within the industry.
Featuring 11tracks, these recordings are the first body of work from the Bangkok pro- ducer, and include many different snapshots of electronic music genres from IDM and experimental to hardcore and rave, using caustic electronics to deconstruct traditional track conventions. This collection of cuts read more as a complete soundscape, like lis- tening to a live set. The phrenetic jump from genre to genre, the mixing of diverse sound textures and landscapes reflect Wanton Witch's own experience navigating a hostile world as a Queer trans woman in Malaysia. The intense energy with which each track is cut together reminds the listener of the nostalgia of mixtapes and a time in life when identity is being constructed.
Wanton Witch has created an album which feels like a reflection of the aggregation that already exists within musical internet sub-cultures and communities. A place where many diverse and contrasting sound palettes, textures, and structures can fit together to create a new different, Queer way of seeing the world. Plumbs the depths of her lived experience to produce a chaotic and scathingly honest portrait of her state of being. Her electrostatic landscapes ruthlessly pursue their own interests, building rickety bridges between the rhythmic propulsion of hardcore and a darkened rave anti-euphoria. A cubist dancefloor sensibility unfurls, its protracted beats inviting the throwing of impossible shapes. The complexities inform the structure, or lack thereof, of wanton's music and results in wildly avant-garde works of sound design formulated to go for the jugular. Each one is more sonic collage than song, aural mood boards of textures and atmospherics which sees her dealing with her experiences in real time. At its core, wanton's modus operandi is to allow for an understanding of the trans experience by way of empathy. This makes for a vision wrought with vulnerability and heartfelt honesty to the point that wanton's compositions become alarmingly accessible. It arrives as an- other sublime body of work that utilises and subverts the conventions of electronic music to humanise the experience of being other.
In conclusion of wanton's rousing debut year of 2021, her album was humbly selected and featured as one of the Best albums of 2021 by Resident advisor, Mixmag Japan and many more. Shortly after, label head Lucy released a full length album named 'Lucy Plays Wanton Witch' featuring re-interpretations of the original material in a whole new body of work. This is a follow up full-length album by Lucy not approached as a usual remixes record, but instead a fully fleshed out new body of work with the WW material being an integral part of Lucy's sonic palette.
With an earnest appetency of growing as an artist, wanton is set to make her European debut in May 2022.
Lyric
Malay
Orfeus - Gelora Kuning
Macam tiang dimamah anai-anai
Tunggu masa bumbung jatuh menyembah ke lantai
Kerja kuasawan kononnya cerdik pandai Pandai-pandai, kita yang terkapai-kapai
Negara kini bagai kapal tanpa kompas Dengan jurang kaya miskin yang semakin kontras
Duduk atas makin lama makin gemuk
Kekal senang saku rakyat habis kena seluk Cukai demi cukai tapi kita tak merasa
Keluh demi keluh kita dikata mengada Hidup kalau susah kita disuruh berubah
Dia teguk madu kita hirup air ludah Padang pilihanraya tak pernah sama rata Rakyat tunjuk yang terjongket dia buat buta Komikjenaka tak boleh hidup, gulung tikar Maklumlah menteri pun dah pakar buat kelakar
Bangkit kawan bangkit Bangkit dari lena
Bingit kawan bingit Biar gegar gempita
Bangkit kawan bangkit Bangkit dari lena
Rebut demokrasi Kembali pada kita
Kalau bising dengan cota mulut-mulut dijahit Sumbat masuk dalam biar tidur jangan bangkit
Kakitangan awam berdepan tukar jabatan Seberang jambatan boleh terlucut jawatan
Kuasa berpusat cuma pada satu sosok Pada satu parti, pada satu goblok
Satu orang satu undi mangsa gerrymander Mandat rakyatjadi bahan gurau senda
Helai demi helai surat khabar dibakar Tiap bongkar katanya pencetus makar Tinggal mekar cuma suara Penguasa Berdengung dalam TV mengemis percaya
Skandal demi skandal rakyat kena tanggung Berbilion bail out bila-bila boleh tampung Kita terdesak tersekat sayangkan negara
Diorang tersedak terangkat ketawa
Bangkit kawan bangkit Bangkit dari lena
Bingit kawan bingit Biar gegar gempita
Bangkit kawan bangkit Bangkit dari lena
Rebut demokrasi Kembali pada kita
Antara jalan demokrasi, pilihanraya Bila pilihan mendesak kita ke jalanraya
Lontar suara biar semua dengar dan nampak
Visual, sudut pandang beku didobrak Tendang luar kotak, berdiri solidariti
Jangan biar berani dalam diri mati Kita ada suara, takkan cuma pendam
Kita nampak semua, takkan cuma diam Meski gema suara tidak meroboh tembok
Tapi boleh kejut yang tidur di bantal empuk Hanya bunyi bising, boleh ganggu lena
Hanya bergerak boleh melawan bencana Hanya dengan tangan, goncang kuasa
Hanya atas jalan, luahan terasa Saat dah ditolak hampiri bucu gaung
Pilih mahu mengembek ataupun mengaum
ENGLISH
Orfeus - Gelora Kuning
Like a termite infested pillar Collapse is inevitable
Those in power are assumed intelligent
And yet we the people are left struggling The country is akin to a ship without a compass With stark contrast in equality
The ones on top are getting fatter Wealthy from raiding the people's pocket
Taxes after taxes but to no evident social improvement Voice out and they take us as whiners
They say "If life is difficult adjust your lifestyle!"
They feast on honey while we get spit The election is never free and fair
The people cry foul but they turn a blind eye Comedians can't make a living
As these days the ministers are better jokers
Lets rise up my friend Lets rise from our slumber
Shout it loud and clear
Let our voice rumble like thunder
Lets rise up my friend Lets rise from our slumber
Fight for democracy Restore it to the people
Mouth of dissenters sewn shut with force
Lock them up. Kill them. Let them be silenced
Institutions compromised; those vocal transferred from their departments
Take the other side and goodbye Power centralized towards one person
One party, one fool
"One person one vote" falls victim to gerrymander
The people's mandate is but a joke Freedom of press burned to ashes
Every expose they said mere conspiracy Only those in power have any say
Reverbing on TV begging for the people's trust Scandal after scandal the people bear Billions in bail out at any time
We are desperate to save the country we love They laugh and jeer our plight
Lets rise up my friend Lets rise from our slumber
Shout it loud and clear
Let our voice rumble like thunder
Lets rise up my friend Lets rise from our slumber
Fight for democracy Restore it to the people
Election is the path to democracy
But in desperate times we need to take to the streets
Shout it out, let the people hear and see A new visual to break once rigid perspectives
Get out of the box, stand in solidarity Never let your courage die
We have a voice, lets not be silent
To the injustice we see, lets not be silent Through voice might not break walls
But we shall awaken those who slumber in ignorance Only a loud call can those asleep be awaken
Only in movement we fight against catastrophe With our hands lets shake the system
Only on the streets our grievances heard When pushed to the edge
Do you choose to bleat or to roar!
